Flat cable strain relief with controlled mechanical resistance

Abstract

A flexible electronic pathway, such as a flat flexible cable or flexible circuit, includes a cut-out within the pathway to provide strain relief by balancing the stress over the termination area. The flexible electronic pathway allows relative movement between a first end and a second end in all three translation, all three rotation directions, and combinations thereof. The strain relief can provide for a controlled mechanical resistance to reduce the risk of damage and failure.

1 . A flexible electronic pathway, comprising:
 a flat conductor comprising:
 an electrical conductor; and 
 an insulative substrate; and 
   a cut-out within a portion of the flat conductor to provide strain relief, wherein the cut-out is surrounded by side lobes extending laterally in opposite directions from the axial path of the flat conductor;   wherein the flexible electronic pathway allows a relative movement between a first end and a second end of the flat conductor.   
     
     
         2 . The flexible electronic pathway of  claim 1 , wherein the flat conductor comprises a flexible circuit. 
     
     
         3 . The flexible electronic pathway of  claim 1 , wherein the flat conductor comprises a flexible cable. 
     
     
         4 . The flexible electronic pathway of  claim 1 , wherein the flat conductor comprises a connector. 
     
     
         5 . The flexible electronic pathway of  claim 4 , wherein the connector is connected to a printed circuit board at the first end or the second end. 
     
     
         6 . The flexible electronic pathway of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible electronic pathway gradually increases a resistance to a force causing the relative movement as the relative movement increases. 
     
     
         7 . The flexible electronic pathway of  claim 1 , wherein the relative movement comprises a linear movement in an axial plane. 
     
     
         8 . The flexible electronic pathway of  claim 1 , wherein the relative movement comprises at least two of a linear movement in a lateral plane, an axial plane, and a vertical plane. 
     
     
         9 . The flexible electronic pathway of  claim 1 , wherein the relative movement comprises a rotational movement about a lateral axis, an axial axis, or a vertical axis. 
     
     
         10 . The flexible electronic pathway of  claim 1 , wherein the relative movement comprises at least two of a rotational movement about a lateral axis, an axial axis, and a vertical axis. 
     
     
         11 . The flexible electronic pathway of  claim 1 , wherein the relative movement comprises a linear movement in a lateral plane, an axial plane, or a vertical plane and a rotational movement about a lateral axis, an axial axis, or a vertical axis. 
     
     
         12 . The flexible electronic pathway of  claim 1 , wherein the cut-out is centered laterally within the flat conductor. 
     
     
         13 . The flexible electronic pathway of  claim 1 , wherein the side lobes are symmetrical. 
     
     
         14 . The flexible electronic pathway of  claim 13 , wherein the lateral side lobes are curved. 
     
     
         15 . A medical diagnostic imaging apparatus, comprising:
 a gantry with an aperture for receiving a subject;   at least one detector head mounted to the gantry for receiving radiation;   a subject location system for locating the at least one detector near the subject, wherein the subject location system comprises:
 a sensor array for sensing a condition associated with a location of the at least one detector relative to the subject; 
 a distance measurement system for determining a distance from the at least one detector to the subject; and 
 a flexible electronic pathway for providing electronic communications between the sensor array and the distance measuring system, wherein the flexible electronic pathway comprises:
 a flat conductor comprising:
 an electrical conductor; and 
 an insulative substrate; and 
 
 a cut-out within a portion of the flat conductor to provide strain relief, wherein the cut-out is surrounded by side lobes extending laterally in opposite directions from the axial path of the flat conductor; 
 wherein the flexible electronic pathway allows a relative movement between a first end and a second end of the flat conductor. 
 
   
     
     
         16 . A method of designing a flexible electronic pathway that comprises a flat conductor and a cut-out within the flat conductor to provide strain relief, such that the flexible electronic pathway allows relative movement between a first end and a second end of a flat conductor, comprising:
 determining a lobe angle, wherein the lobe angle defines a curved portion of the flat conductor surrounding the cut-out; and   determining a lobe extension length, wherein the lobe extension length defines a straight portion of the flat conductor surrounding the cut-out.   
     
     
         17 . The method of designing a flexible electronic pathway according to  claim 16 , further comprising:
 determining a width of the flat conductor; and   determining a minimum internal radius of the cut-out.   
     
     
         18 . The method of designing a flexible electronic pathway according to  claim 16 , further comprising determining a minimum force to damage an electrical connection associated with the first end or the second end, wherein determining the lobe angle and determining the lobe extension length is based on the minimum force. 
     
     
         19 . The method of designing a flexible electronic pathway according to  claim 16 , further comprising determining a maximum relative movement between the first end and the second end, wherein determining the lobe angle and determining the lobe extension length is based on the maximum relative movement. 
     
     
         20 . The method of designing a flexible electronic pathway according to  claim 19 , wherein the maximum relative movement comprises at least one of a linear movement in a lateral plane, an axial plane, or a vertical plane and a rotational movement about a lateral axis, an axial axis, or a vertical axis.